Blogging Through the Gospels – Matthew 1

S: Scripture-Write the ONE scripture that I feel God is using to speak to me in today’s reading.

Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

O: Observation-What might He be telling me with that scripture?

Jesus means “the Lord is Salvation.” There is depth in everything about God, even down to naming His Son. Jesus, the Lord is Salvation, for He will save His people from their sins.

A: Application-How can I apply it to my life?

There is so much to know about God and so much depth in the Scriptures. I need to pay attention to the details so that I can understand Jesus better. He is my Salvation.

P: Prayer-What is my prayer to ask God in helping me to make that application?

Father, I ask that You help me to focus on You during this reading time. Help me to understand You better so that I am not afraid of You.

Blogging Through the Gospels

Amy, over at Mom’s Toolbox, is hosting a new Bible study called Blogging Through the Gospels. Starting tomorrow, we’ll be taking a 14 week trip through the Gospels.

I’m really excited to begin this study. Lately, I’ve been reading a lot in Romans and Psalms but have felt a bit aimless without a structured study. This couldn’t have come at a better time! I’m not sure how much I’ll blog about it, if it will be every day or several times a week. But I will definitely be keeping a personal journal throughout the reading.

Week 1 reading schedule
Day 1 devotional guide

Won’t you join us? This is an excellent opportunity to know Christ better!

This week’s memory text – Romans 8:3

I’m really enjoying learning this passage from Romans. This week I’m going to add on verse 3.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh

As I was reading through Psalms and Romans last week, I marked down several other texts I want to memorize. Each text was either a promise or a revelation about God and His character. Is there enough time throughout one’s life to memorize significant portions of Scripture?

This week’s memory text

I am slacking on my memory work and I really need to be more committed! This week I’m going to continue in Romans 8. I’ve already memorized verse 1 so I’m going to add verse 2.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Today I was reading through Romans 8 and marveling at how much is packed into just the one chapter. I’m sure there are entire books written discussing what Romans 8 contains.

Verse 15 is my favorite:

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Abba, Father. I want to know Him better.

Weekly Memory Verse

I really feel like I have retreated from the world for awhile. I find myself surprised when I realize I haven’t signed on to Facebook in a week or blogged for a few days. My husband’s work has been super busy, plus we’ve had some dental drama. When I’m not taking care of my husband or the house, I’ve been studying Japanese. Hopefully this week will find me being more social!

Last week’s verse is partially memorized. I’m going to continue working on it this week and also start another passage. This passage was in a chapter my husband read for sundown worship last night and I love it.

Sing, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
The LORD has taken away your judgments,
He has cast out your enemy.
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
You shall see disaster no more.
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:

“Do not fear;
Zion, let not your hands be weak.
The LORD your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing”

Zephaniah 3:14-17, NKJV

Weekly Memory Verse

What happened to last week? It went by so quickly I barely noticed. And now it’s Monday again. I screwed up last week. I waited so long to post my verse online and then forgot to study it. So I’m starting over with this text and I’m going to learn it again this week.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:3-4, NKJV

I study Japanese for hours every week and memorize Kanji, vocabulary, etc. so I really have no excuse for not memorizing Scripture. It just needs to be more of a priority. I’m telling everyone that I made a mistake last week in hopes that it will encourage me to do better this week. I don’t want to post this same message again next Monday!

Weekly Memory Verse

I can’t believe I haven’t posted this week’s verse yet. I think I’m going to start posting them on Sundays, so that I remind myself to start memorizing it.

Last week’s text went well (Romans 8:1) so I’m going to memorize another that has the same theme.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:3-4, NKJV

The second verse is the one I greatly need to memorize. It’s such a reassurance that God wants all men to be saved, not just a few.

Weekly Memory Verse

One side benefit to being involved in the Bible in 90 Days ministry is that you get to meet great people. Katia is one of my fellow mentors for this session and I am thoroughly enjoying getting to know her via her blog.

Katia has invited others to join her in memorizing a Scripture verse every week. I haven’t memorized Scripture in years. Thankfully, there is no better time to start than today!

The verse I chose to memorize this week is really comforting me right now.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,
who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:1, NKJV

I started reading this verse over and over on Friday but I can’t seem to let go of it. It’s a good choice for memorization this week.

Heaven is a Real Place

Today’s church service was the last meeting in a Revelation seminar. We’ve attended the past three Sabbaths and have really enjoyed seeing our old pastor in his new role of conference evangelist.

The sermon was about heaven. It was very uplifting and made me excited to see it! Too often it’s easy to get caught up in what’s wrong with the world, the country, our lives. Instead, we spent an hour focusing on Christ and on heaven.

Nevertheless we, according to His promise,
look for new heavens and a new earth
in which righteousness dwells

2 Peter 3:13.

I think this is a great passage reminding us to keep looking forward to a new heavens and a new earth.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself
Philippians 3:20-21.

Our citizenship is in heaven, not on this earth. Earth is not our home! Instead, we wait for Jesus, who will transform our bodies into ones like His. I can’t wait! No more sickness, no more death, no more pain.

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes;
there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.
There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away”

Revelation 21:1-4.

I love that God will dwell with us and we shall be His people. We have the promise that God Himself will be with us! Forever! What a wonderful promise.

And it shall come to pass
That from one New Moon to another,
And from one Sabbath to another,
All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the LORD

Isaiah 66:23.

Can you imagine the first worship service? Millions of people, coming together, to worship the Lord as one. All of us getting the chance to sing praises to God, to hear Him speak, to see His face!

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.

They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads
Revelation 22:1-4.

This passage has so many promises in it. A beautiful tree of life, new fruits every month, the healing of the nations, no more curse, spending time with God, seeing His face, and having His name on our foreheads!

Heaven is going to be wonderful and I want to be there! I hope to see you there as well!